Taxonomy and new distributional records of corticolous manglicolous microlichens in Bangrin Marine Protected Area, Philippines

Abstract

This research aims to continue the inventory of corticolous microlichens in Pangasinan, Northern Philippines. The study was focused on the manglicolous lichens that grow on the bark and stems of mangrove trees present in the Bangrin Marine Protected Area mangrove forest. The survey resulted in the documentation of eight (8) species of manglicolous microlichens belonging to four (4) families. These include Bacidia kurilensis, Graphis furcata, Graphis nanodes, Graphis pinicola, Graphis pulverulenta, Lecanora achroa, Lithothelium almbornii and Pyrenula parvinuclea. The highest species richness belonged to the family Graphidaceae, followed by Pyrenulaceae. The lichens B. kurilensis and L. almbornii were reported to be new distributional records in the Philippines.